Civic group Tracka has raised fresh concerns over transparency and accountability in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, more than a month after submitting a Freedom of Information request without response.
The highway, expected to stretch about 700 kilometres across nine coastal states, is a flagship infrastructure initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at boosting trade, improving connectivity, and addressing shoreline challenges.
In a letter dated 19 February 2026 and addressed to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, Tracka an initiative of BudgIT Foundation requested detailed information under the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The request, acknowledged by the ministry on 2 March 2026, sought clarity on the project’s procurement process, including justification for any selective or direct contracting methods. It also requested copies of approvals, bid documents and evaluation reports, as well as the identities and ownership structures of contractors and subcontractors.
Tracka further demanded a full disclosure of the total project cost and its breakdown, funding sources, environmental and social impact assessments, compensation arrangements for affected communities, implementation timelines, and safeguards against cost overruns or conflicts of interest.
However, as of mid-April 2026, the group said no response had been received.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not just about building a road. It is raising deep accountability and governance concerns that cannot be ignored,” Tracka said.
The organisation highlighted what it described as major gaps in public disclosure, including uncertainty over the total project cost and financing structure. It also pointed to demolitions along parts of the corridor that have displaced businesses and livelihoods, with lingering questions over compensation.
Environmental risks were also raised, particularly the potential impact on coastal communities, wetlands, and long-term climate resilience. Tracka added that phased commissioning of sections of the road could be perceived as prioritising political optics rather than full project delivery.
The group stressed that large-scale public infrastructure projects must be transparent and people-focused, insisting that citizens deserve clarity on the cost, execution process, and long-term implications.
“The continued silence weakens public trust and raises further concerns about how large-scale infrastructure projects are being managed,” it said.
Lagos-Calabar: Tracka demands cost of funding for coastal highway
Tracka
Tracka vowed to sustain its #followtheprojects campaign, reiterating that “#publicfundsmustworkforthegoodofthepeople”
The Federal Ministry of Works has previously defended the project, noting that it is being executed under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Finance model due to the technical complexity of building across coastal and swampy terrain. The ministry has also stated that anti-corruption agencies are free to scrutinise the project’s cost structure.
Construction has progressed on the Lagos section, with partial openings reported and additional financing secured, though public debate continues over the project’s economic value relative to concerns about governance, environmental impact, and funding transparency.
Under Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act, public institutions are expected to respond to requests within a stipulated timeframe, although compliance has remained inconsistent.
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